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Prevent Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome

What is hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (also known as HPS)?

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a serious, often deadly, respiratory
disease that has been found mostly in rural areas of the western United
States.

The disease is caused by a hantavirus that is carried by rodents and passed
on to humans through infected rodent urine, saliva, or droppings.

Should tourists, campers, and hikers worry about hantavirus infection?

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a rare disease, and most tourists are not
at increased risk for hantavirus infection. However, visitors to rural
areas and nature resorts -- campers, hikers, and others who take part in
activities outdoors -- can become exposed to rodent urine, saliva, or
droppings and become infected with hantavirus.

If your activities take you to areas where you may become exposed to
rodents and their urine, saliva, or droppings, take the precautions listed
in this pamphlet to prevent being exposed to hantavirus.

What kinds of rodents carry hantavirus?

The deer mouse is the primary carrier of the virus that causes hantavirus
pulmonary syndrome. This type of rodent is found throughout the United
States, except in the Southeast and East Coast. In the Southeast, the
cotton rat is known to carry hantavirus.

How do I identify rodents, burrows, and droppings?

A deer mouse is 4-9 inches long from head to tip of tail. It is pale gray
to reddish brown and has white fur on its belly, feet, and underside of the
tail. It has oversized ears.

A mouse nest (burrow) is usually a pile of material under which the mouse
lives. This pile can contain many different materials, such as twigs,
insulation, styrofoam, and grass.

How is the virus spread?

Hantavirus is spread from wild rodents to people. The virus, which is found
in rodent urine, saliva, and feces, gets in the air as mist from urine and
saliva or dust from feces. Breathing in the virus is the most common way of
becoming infected; however, you can also become infected by touching the
mouth or nose after handling contaminated materials. A rodent's bite can
also spread the virus.

Hantavirus is not spread from person to person. You cannot become infected
by being near a person who has hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The virus,
which is able to survive in the environment (for example, in contaminated
dirt and dust), can be killed by most household disinfectants, such as
bleach or alcohol.

What are the symptoms of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, and how long after infection do they appear?

Symptoms of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome usually appear within 2 weeks of
infection but can appear as early as 3 days to as late as 6 weeks after
infection.

First symptoms are general and flu-like: fever (101 degrees - 104 degrees
F); headache; abdominal, joint, and lower back pain; sometimes nausea and
vomiting. However, the primary symptom of this disease is difficulty in
breathing, which is caused by fluid build-up in the lungs and quickly
progresses to an inability to breathe.

What should I do if I think I have hantavirus infection?

If any combination of the symptoms described above -- especially difficulty
in breathing -- appear after direct or indirect exposure to rodents,
contact your doctor or public health clinic immediately and be sure to
mention your exposure to rodents.

Is there a cure for or vaccine against hantavirus infection?

No cure or vaccine is yet available against hantavirus infection. The
sooner after infection medical treatment is sought, the better the chance
of recovery.

Is it safe to travel to areas where hantavirus infection has been reported?

Yes. Travel to and within all areas where hantavirus infection has been
reported is safe. Nevertheless, if you camp or hike in an area inhabited by
rodents, you have a small risk of being exposed to infected rodents and
becoming infected with hantavirus.

To minimize the risk for hantavirus infection, follow these precautions:

Before occupying abandoned or unused cabins, open them up to air out.
Inspect for rodents and do not use cabins if you find signs of rodent
infestation

If you sleep outdoors, check potential campsites for rodent droppings
and burrows

Do not disturb rodents, burrows, or dens

Avoid sleeping near woodpiles or garbage areas that may be frequented
by rodents

Avoid sleeping on bare ground; use a mat or elevated cots if they are
available

Store foods in rodent-proof containers and promptly discard, bury, or
burn all garbage

For more information, contact the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1-800-532-9929.

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This page last reviewed:
Friday, July 25, 2014

This information is provided as technical reference material. Please contact us at cwus@cdc.gov to request a simple text version of this document.